wenner



Feb. 7, 1956 c. B. WENNER VAPORIZING DISPENSER FOR AIR TREATING GELS.

Filed March 18, 1955 SEN.

CHARLES B.WENN.ER BY MEW?,

ATTORNEY.

VAPRIZHNG DESPENSER FR AER TREA'HNG @Elf-.JS

Charles B. Weidner, Darien, Conn., assigner te Airlrem, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation ot New York Application March 1S, w55, Serial No. 95,22%

.11b Claims. (Cl. wil-24) This invention relates to a vaporizing dispenser for air treating gels having a vaporizing zone, a storage zone for bodies of air treating gel, and means intermediate the two zones for controlling the delivery of bodies of air treating gel to said vaporizing zone. More particularly the invention relates to a vapor diffuser of the class described for use with cylindrical bodies of air treating gel in which a plurality of cylindrical bodies arranged in horizontal position and having essentially linear contact therebetween are arranged in a storage zone which is substantially sealed from circulating air by engagement between the lowermost of said cylindrical bodies and a restricted discharge opening into a vaporizing zone. Still more particularly the invention relates to a vapor diffuser of the class described wherein the restricted discharge between the storage zone and vaporizing zone bears such a relationship to the original diameter of the cylindrical gel bodies as to allow substantially complete evaporation of each gel body in the vapori/zing zone before the next successive cylindrical body is delivered thereto from the storage zone.

Air treating gels of the type disclosed in United States Patent No. 2,691,615 wherein an aqueous medium con taining .l to of a mixture of volatile air treating components is solidiiied by means of a small amount i. e. l to 4% of an aqueous gelling agent provide a very effective means for introducing into air -a uniform quality vapor mixture for effecting deodorization and other treatments of the air which involve the introduction of volatilizable components thereto. It has been found, however, that when adapting such gels to uses in which continued functioning for extended periods i. e. a month or more before a starting quantity or charge of gel is expended there is distinct advantage in employing a certain quantity of gel in the form of a plurality of smaller bodies rather than a single large body. One reason for this is that with a single large body of gel it is possible, particularly with extended high rate evaporation for the outer surface of gel to become hard and dry before all of the volatilizable materials from within the gel have diiused to the surface for evaporation. While this is not so readily encountered in instances when the gel is subjected to intermittent uses of short duration, it will be evident that a product intended for use in the treatment of air should, if possible, function equally well under all conditions of use, whether intermittent or continuous, slow or rapid.

When employing a plurality of smaller bodies of gel, the full advantage in inherent use of smaller bodies is realizedonly if successful gel bodies are delivered individually to an evaporation zone as and when needed as indicated by the falling ot of volatilization from the body or bodies of gel previously delivered to such zone. The new vapor diiuser in accordance with the present invention provides in a very efficient way for the automatic individual delivery of gel bodies to a reaction zone as needed and operates equally well whether the device is in use continuously, or intermittently, or is 2,733,956 Patented Feb. 7, 1956 ice the same time the device is attractive in appearance,y

simple in construction, and readily adapted for inexpensive production, as for example by molding from plastic materials.

Novel features of the invention will readilyv'be apparent from a consideration of the following description taken together with the accompanying drawingin which preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown with the various parts thereof identied by suitable reference characters in each of the views and in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the device adjusted to a partially open position;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation view of the device as shown in Fig. l with part of the structure broken away and in section;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view substantially on the line 33l as seen in Fig. 2; and

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are partial views similar to Fig. 3 showing different stages of operation of the device.

As shown in Figs. l to 3 ofthe drawing the vapor diffuser comprises a base in, a body portion li and a telescoping lid or closure part l2. These three intertting parts together form an upper storage chamber i3 and a lowervvolatilization chamber ifi for cylindrical bodies ot air treating gel l5. The base lt) which may be fashioned from a iiexible or rubber-like plastic is provided in closely spaced relation to its peripheral edges with an undercut groove i6 for receiving in snap or frictional engagement an outwardly extending bead or flange 17 which extends around the periphery oi the lower end or the body part ll. At longitudinally spaced intervals the base i@ is provided with slightly elevated saddles l extending transversely or the base and having depressed central portions as seen at 19 in Fig. 3. The saddles l@ serve the dual function of centering a gel body i5 within the volatilization chamber 14 and elevating the gei body slightly above the surface Zit of the base.

The body part il in its transverse cross-section as seen in Fig. 3 has an upper portion 21 which is of a width to receive closeiy but freely cylindrical gel bodies l5 of a predetermined diameter, and a lower portion 22 which is of greater width than the upper portion 2l and joining the upper portion 2l. in. a tapered wall or ledge Z3. ln substantial alignment with the tapered walls or ledges 23 andlextending inwardly ,and downwardly of the device are narrow ribs or vanes 7.4 forming a restricted passage 2S between the storage chamber 13 and volatilizing chamber ld.

The restricted passage 25 serves the dual purpose of essentially sealing the storage chamber 13 from the volatilizing chamber 14 by establishingV lines of contact between the lowermost gel body 15 and the ribs 24. The particularly width of the opening 25 or spacing between the free ends of the ribs 2d is preferably about 75% ot the starting diameter of the gel body l5 and as more fully hereinafter described in discussing Figs. 4 to 6 of the drawing it is the size of the discharge opening 2S which makes possible the unique eiectiveness of the device.

The further control of the device to prevent, permit and regulate volatilization of material from the chamber ld is provided by vertical adjustment of the lid 12 with respect to apertures 2,6 in opposed longitudinal walls of the lower portion 22 in the body part 1li. lt will be noted that the lid or closure 12 has a closed top 27 which is suitably of a domed contour, upper longitudinal walls Z8 spaced to closely engage theupper portion 21 of the body part, beveled ledges 29 conforming to the ledges 23 of the body part and lower longitudinal walls 3b adapted to over-lie the apertures 26 and suitably engaging inwardly odset or recessed surfaces 31 in the lower annesse a portion 22 of the body part. These inwardly offset or recessed` surfaces. 31 preferably continue on transverse end walls 32 of the body part il as will be apparent from a consideration of Figs. l and 2 of the drawing.

In fashioning the body part il and the apertures 2o and inwardlyoset walls Silit will be noted that by extending the inwardly offset wall portions 3l which border the apertures 25 below such apertures as the ribs 33, seen in Figs. 2 and 3, it is possible to form all parts of the body 11- iriy a single molding or casting operation between linearly interitting molds.

The vertical adjustment or" they lid or closure l2 for adjusting the extent of opening of the apertures 26 and thus regulating the rate of volatiiization of material from the device caribe facilitated by suitable positioning or aligning means such as the visual indicator in Fig. l of the drawin'f. rl`his visual indicator which for purpose oi illustration has been shown as providing normal positions of closed, one-third open, two-thirds open and fully open comprises a stepped cutout 34 in one end l2 of the closure or lid i2 and an interiitting stepped portion 35 protruding from the inwardly offset portion 3l of end wall 32 of said body part. ln Fig. l or" the drawing the control indicates a setting at which the apertures 2d are one-third open and it will be apparent that other desired adjustments can readily be obtained oy suitably aligning the stepped portions of the recess or cutout 34's and protrusion 35.

In the device as shown in the drawing the storage chamber' l5 accommodates two bodies l5 of gel and the volatilizing chamber i4 can initially accommodate one body ofget as shown in the dotted line position in Figs. 3 and 4 ofthe drawing. Thus the device could initially be so distributed as a package unit loaded with three bodies or slugs of gel l5. lt will be understood in this connection that by merely extending the upper portion of the device the storage chamber i3 could be made to accommodate more than two gel bodies l5 and consistent with the rate at which gel is to be consumed such vertical extension of the device might be desired. The device as shown in the drawing, however, represents a practical size for normal home use with a deodorizing gel which would provide a month or more of normal intermittent service before recharging with gel is necessary.

As air treating gels of the type disclosed in United States Patent No. 2,691,615 evaporate on exposure to air, liquid medium is continuously diffused from within the gel to the surface of the gel causing a gradual shrinkage in the` size and shape of the gel. lr a mass of gel is substantially completely exposed tothe air as in the case of the dotted line showings in Figs. 3 and 4, the rate of evaporation will be greater, due to the larger surface exposed, than will the rate of evaporation from a portion of gel exposed through the restricted discharge opening 25. Thus the body of gel in the volatilizing chamber 14 will be consumed at a much more rapid rate than the body exposed through the opening 25 until a substantial aniount or" shrinkage has taken place in the lower gel body. As the portion of gel exposed through the opening 25 becames a greater proportion of the total gel surfaces exposed within the volatilizing chamber ld, shrinkage ci the gel body le" partially exposed at the opening 2,5 will accelerate eventually to the point where the exposed gel body l5 can pass through the opening ZS, thus permitting a fresh body of to become en posed at the opening 25.

Figs. 4, 5 andY 6 are intended 'to show typical dilerent stages in the consumption of gel. ln Fig. 4 the three gel bodies including the dotted line showing i5 is representative ofV the starting situation with three fresh bodies ot' gel. The smaller gel body l5 indicates the situation immediately 'iter a gel slug l5 has dropped through the opening 25 and also represents substantially the amount of .shrinkage` in the gel body as shown in dotted lines that would be required before appreciable fifi.

evaporation from the gel body l5 as shown in Fig. 4 would take place.

Fig. 5 is illustrative of an intermediate stage when the lower gel body l5 has shrunk to a considerable extent and evaporation and shrinkage of the exposed gel body as become quite advanced. ln Fig. 6 of the drawing 'the lower gel body iii has shrunk to the point of being substantially spent and the exposed gel body 15 has evaporated and shrunk substantially to the point where pcd gel slugs l5". It has been found that Y er o gel slug i5 is suitable for this control. gel body one-and-ahalf inches in diameter, f opening 2S should be approximately one- .th inches.

it is not essential that the gel slug l5 be completely spent before the exposed slug l5 is dropped. In fact the substantially spent slug l5" vapors for a considerable period of time and in pracltice several spent slugs i5 may be permitted to accumulate in the volatilizing chamber ld. In removing the spent slugs the bottom it) of the device is forcibly removed from the body portion il giving access to the volatilizing chamber ltd.

lvfhile the external structure of the device has been described in considerable detail, as well as the internal structure thereof, it is to be understood that in various adaptations of the invention much of the external detail could be modified or eliminated, and that in its broaderA aspects the invention comprises the combination as shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 of a volatilizing zone, a storage zone, or chamber separated from the volatilizing Zone by a restricted passage which is substantially sealed by a partially exposed cylindrical gel body, said gel body progressively shrinking as volatile materials therefrom escape through its exposed portion until it drops through saidl opening.

lt is to be understood that the particular size and shape of the openings 26 as shown inl the drawing is purely illustrative and that the size and shape of these openings will be determined in particular instances by the evaporation characteristics of the material to be dispensed from the device. By way of illustration the openings 26 might be somewhat narrower and extended further clown` on the base part of the device. Such variation would have the eect of providing greater circulation of air inthe lower portion of the volatilizing chamber ld and would also provide for greater movement of the closure or cap member between the fully closed and fully open position in controlling circulation of air through the side open'- ings. rl`his greater movement in control would provide a corresponding increase in the degree of variation which the user could make in the rate of circulation' otair through the device and emission of air treating vapors therefrom.

Various changes and modications in the device as herein disclosed will occur to those skilled in the art andl to the extent that such changes and modifications are embraced by the appended clairns, it is to be understood that they constitute part of my invention.

i claim:

l. A vapor diffusing device for air treating gel in cylindrical slug form, said device comprising a storage chamber having a length and width closely conformingV tothe V slugs l5 and the consumption of pre-` may continue tok giveA length and diameter of a predetermined sized cylindrical gel slug when disposed with its axis horizontally of said chamber, supporting means for said chamber providing a volatilization zone below said chamber, and means at the base of said chamber forming a restricted passage between the volatilization zone and said chamber, the opening provided by said restricted passage being substantially less than the diameter of a fresh gel slug to thereby support the gel slug within said chamber while exposing a portion of the cylindrical surface of said gel slug for evaporation of volatilizable material therefrom.

2. A vapor diffusing device as defined in claim 1 wherein said restricted passage is formed by inwardly and downwardly extending vanes providing engagement with a cylindrical gel slug along lines extending longitudinally thereof.

3. A vapor diffusing device as dened in claim 1 wherein the ratio between the width of said passage and diameter of said cylindrical gel slug is approximately a 3 to 4 ratio.

4. A vapor diiusing device as defined in claim 1 wherein side walls of the volatilizing zone and storage chamber constitute portions of a unitary body part having frictional snap engagement with a detachable bottom part and telescoping sliding engagement with a top closure part.

5. A vapor diffusing device as dened in claim 4 wherein lower edges of said telescoping closure part register with and control apertures in opposed walls of said volatilizing zone.

6. A vapor diffusing device as defined in claim 4 wherein lower edges of said telescoping closure part register with and control apertures in opposed walls of said volatilizing zone, and cooperating means on said closure part and body part facilitate adjustment of said closure part with respect to said apertures.

7. A vapor diffusing device comprising a rectangular base, a body part open at both ends and having means at one end thereof for snap engagement with said base part, a closure member having telescopic engagement with said body part for closing the opposed end thereof, inwardly extending means internally of said body part dividing same into an upper storage chamber for cylindrical bodies of air treating gel, and a lower volatilizing chamber for such gel bodies, opposed side walls of said volatilizing chamber having apertures adapted to be opened and closed in the sliding movement of said closure member, said dividing means providing for the support of a cylindrical gel body with an elongated panel thereof exposed for evaporation until shrinkage due to evaporation of the gel body permits the passage of the gel body through said dividing means.

8. A vapor diffusing device as defined in claim 7 wherein outer surfaces of the body part are inwardly offset to permit outer surfaces of said closure part to be substantially flush with outer surfaces of the remainder of said body part.

9. A vapor diffusing device as dened in claim 8 wherein the inwardly ofr'set portions of said body part adjacent the apertures therein continue as ribs below said apertures.

10. A vapor diffusing device as defined in claim 7 wherein the apertured portions 0f said volatilizing chamber are disposed outwardly beyond the point of alignment with corresponding walls of said storage chamber, thereby facilitating the circulation of air throughout said volatilizing chamber.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,105,502 Fain `uly 18, 1914 1,846,068 Sandehn Feb. 23, 1932 2,132,602 Belshaw Oct. l1, 1938 

